Funding for UW College of Engineering building debated

An attempt to remove funding from the University of Wyoming’s College of Engineering failed in the state House of Representatives.

Jackson Representative Keith Gingery fought to remove $55 million that will be spent to upgrade the UW College of Engineering, because the state has other needs.

"Is this what you want to go to go home with? That this is the big accomplishment of the Wyoming legislature, that we [spent] $55 million , even though we cut $60 million from mental health, developmental pre-schools …on and on. That’s ok, because we’re building a building."

Gingery says there are other buildings that are greater priorities in the state, such as the State Hospital, but Laramie Representative Glenn Moniz says it is one-time money that will create a Tier 1 Engineering school.

Meanwhile, the House narrowly passed an amendment that would require members of the legislature and others to sign off on artwork that would be placed in Half Acre gymnasium on the UW campus.